Four new projects VerDuS SURF Pop Up granted

21 December 2017

The call VerDuS SURF Pop Up 2017, 2nd round, has resulted in the granting of four new small projects. Topics of these projects are Mobility as a Service, new forms of cooperation when recovering energy and resources from the water-cycle, empowerment of youth in vulnerable neighbourhoods, and the expansion of cycle highways networks.

In this call, researchers were invited to apply for funding for small projects that fit with the thematic framework of the knowledge programme Smart Urban Regions of the Future (SURF). Central in the programme are five societal challenges, namely spatial development, housing, accessibility, economy and governance and their interfaces.

SURF is part of the knowledge initiative Connecting Sustainable Cities (Verbinden van Duurzame Steden, VerDuS), a cooperation between the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW), the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK), NWO, Platform31 and NRPO-SIA.

In this round, four of twenty applications could be granted with the available budget of 150,000 euro. The granted projects are (in alphabetical order of the main applicant’s last name):

Evaluation and upscaling of Mobility as a Service ExperimentsProf. dr. ing. K.T. (Karst) Geurs (m), University of Twente
This project is a cooperation of the University of Twente, Eindhoven University of Technology, Province of North Brabant, Municipality of ’s-Hertogenbosch and GetYouThere BV.

Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is a concept for the integration of different mobility services (e.g. ride sharing, car sharing, public transport) in one platform. In this project, the potential of MaaS to reduce car use and increase accessibility is examined in two experiments in the cities of Eindhoven and ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

Circular Potential: Connection Opportunities Water and Energy in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (MRA)Dr. M.A. (Michaela) Hordijk (f), University of Amsterdam
This project is a cooperation of the University of Amsterdam, Waternet/AGV, Zuiderzeeland Regional Water Authority and Alliander.

To enhance circular urban development and the energy transition this projects is aimed at the recovering of energy and resources from the water-cycle. In this project, scientists support decision makers in the daily praxis of strategy development, and help them develop the new forms of cooperation between government, water-companies, energy providers, private companies and citizens that circularity require.

This project aims to expand chances of youth in vulnerable societal positions in Dutch and German cities. They are asked how they can be empowered by interactions with young, key players in their neighbourhoods ('homies') using social media network. The homies will be trained and supported by professional coaches.

Upscaling of cycle highways networks for sustainable mobility without traffic jamsProf. dr. A. (Arnoud) Lagendijk (m), Radboud University
This project is a cooperation of Radboud University, Radboudumc, Province of Gelderland and Goudappel Coffeng.

To enhance urban accessibility, cycle highways networks are currently substantially expanded responding to new technological opportunities (e-bike, smart communication). To contribute to improved accessibility, this project examines how physical investments can be accompanied by behavioural measures. The project follows a bottom-up stakeholder approach.

In 2018 the call VerDuS SURF Pop Up will be organised again and more information will be published in February 2018.

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The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) funds top researchers, steers the course of Dutch science by means of research programmes and by managing the national knowledge infrastructure.